So fabulous to see women's tennis' Original Nine together again this week at the Family Circle Cup event in Charleston, S.C., 42 years after breaking off from the tennis establishment to start the Women's Tennis Association, the wealthiest female sport in the world. (If you don't know about the legendary $1 contracts these women signed with the publisher of World Tennis Magazine, Gladys Heldman, in 1970, click HERE.) Not to sound morbid, but it's pretty remarkable that all eight players are still alive today. Heldman, who was older than they were, died in 2003, so daughter (and former player) Julie sat in for Mom in the photo above. A court at the Family Circle Cup
was also named for Billie Jean, at an event punctuated by an exhibition featuring Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and John McEnroe. To see how the ladies looked at Original 9 reunions in 1980 and 1986, click
HERE.
Top row from left to right: Valerie Ziegenfuss, Billie Jean King, Nancy Richey, Peaches Bartkowicz, Kristy Pigeon. Bottom row from left to right: Judy Tegart Dalton, Kerry Melville Reid, Rosie Casals, promoter Gladys Heldman (sitting in for daughter Julie).
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3 comments:
Peaches Bartkowicz
That might be one of the best names ever.
Amazing how far women's tennis has come since those days.
Nice to see Kristy Pigeon and Val Ziegenfuss again!
Super cool. Thanks for posting.
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